Author: smartmeals

This is one of the tastiest dishes I have on my blog. It is loaded with beneficial nutrients and feels like a special occasion meal. Using lentil pasta eliminates high carb/high glycemic pasta and opts for a higher protein/lower carbohydrate pasta. Sardines are loaded with healthy Omega-3 essential fatty acids and the butter and olive oil offer even more healthy fats. The tastes are rich, layered and satisfying.

(note: this reminds me so much of eating sauteed baby clams with butter and garlic with my Dad when I was a kid. No one else in my family liked them so it was kind of my “thing” I could share with my dad. I no longer eat shellfish (see Leviticus 11:12) but the sardines are so reminiscent of the baby clams, it brings back awesome memories)

*Kim’s favorite: I personally love a lot of cumin and a dash of cayenne. When ready to serve, I drizzle more olive oil, paprika and fresh parsley

Drain chickpeas reserving about 1/4 cup of the liquid. Put chickpeas and reserved liquid in a food processor and process until smooth. Add all other ingredients and adjust to suit taste and consistency.

I love summertime outdoor cooking but have never loved grilling. Then my husband bought me a smoker and I feel in love with outdoor cooking again. It makes the absolute best smoked jerk chicken, smoked salmon, and smoked grass-fed roasts. I could also use it as a regular grill but that never really appealed to me either.

Then, one of my friends showed me his Blackstone Griddle and I have been blown away. To say I love this thing is an understatement. It has a solid steel (non-toxic) griddle top that when seasoned properly, becomes an amazing non-stick surface. It is ridiculously easy to start and to clean. (Note: cleaning a traditional grill was one of the main reasons I avoided using it). It also produces very little smoke and has a great grease-catching pan. It allows you to cook up several different things at one time making it way quicker and more efficient. Plus, it saves you from dirtying up all sorts of pots and pans in your kitchen. And speaking of kitchens, you don’t have to be stuck in yours while everyone else is outside. It is small and portable but still fits a ton of food on it.

I was shocked that the price was under $300 for all it can do. See more about the Blackstone Griddle here…

Here are some pictures of how I used the griddle in the first 2 weeks I had it.

This is a fabulous recipe that is nothing short of impressive. It is a crowd-pleaser for sure. You will feel like a BBQ Pit Master after this one. The meat is tender and smoky and the outside is caramelized and ultra flavorful. Throw it in on a day you are hanging around the house and pull it out for an amazing dinner.

Kraft paper (Kraft paper gives the best result, but if you can’t find it, you can wrap the roast in parchment paper then wrap in foil- you don’t want foil touching the meat).

IDEAL PREP- ideally, salt both sides of the roasts and place in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight. If you can’t do this salt it and let it sit for as long as possible before cooking.

Mix all of the dry spices together. Spread mustard over both sides of the roasts then sprinkle generously with the spice mixture.

Heat your smoker to 225 degrees (do not let it get above 250). If you are using a Big Green Egg, use the heat deflector)

Smoke for 2-4 hours (depending on the thickness of the roast) then take out and wrap in kraft paper and put back in the smoker for another two hours. This will keep your “bark” firm and still allow the meat to finish cooking. Note: for my two 3 lb roasts, I did 2 hours unwrapped and 2 hours wrapped)

Cook the chicken (I did mine in my InstantPot) and set aside. Put onion, garlic, chipotle peppers, broth or soup, tomato, and salt in a blender and mix into a smooth sauce.

Put a layer of chips in a casserole dish. Top with half of the chicken and half of the sauce. Sprinkle a light layer of cheese then repeat with another layer of chips, sauce and cheese and sprinkle with sliced black olives, if desired.

Mix all ingredients except Xanthan gum in a saucepan and heat until a low boil. Sprinkle the Xanthan gum over the top and whisk vigorously. Heat through.

Serve warm with advanced plan pancakes or waffles. When cooled it will crystallize so just reheat it if necessary. You can use Birch Benders Keto Pancake mix or use this easy recipe for Advanced Plan Pancake Mix.